What is the IMF Qualms With Regulating/ Banning Bitcoin?

[Davidvictorson]

The IMF should take it easy on trying to propagate bad news about bitcoin despite having evidence to the contrary. Earlier this month, the IMF visited San Salvador from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, and two things to note from their visit are, first, that the risks it raised in accepting bitcoin as a legal tender in 2021 have mostly been avoided, and secondly, that the Salvadoran economy grew rapidly by 2.8% in 2022. Now, instead of hiding their heads in shame, they are calling for a ban on Bitcoin or more regulation. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, crypto needs “more regulation.” She added, “We should not take off the table banning those assets,” if regulation fails or is too slow to implement. Too bad for them, the evidence is clear from El Salvador that, despite their status, they do not know it all, and secondly, there is a positive impact of Bitcoin on a country's economic growth. The only point where I agree with them is that any country that chooses to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender should also consider implementing Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) policies and increasing fiscal transparency. These are my thoughts, what's yours?

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[Cuenta Alternativa]

The only point where I agree with them is that any country that chooses to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender should also consider implementing Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) policies and increasing fiscal transparency.

The problem with that perspective is that it attacks the privacy of people who do not commit crimes and simply want to keep their bitcoin out of the clutches of the public authorities.

AMLs tend to make every bitcoin transaction perfectly identifiable, like a bank transaction, and that goes against the very spirit of bitcoin.

On the other hand, let the IMF say what it wants, they are not going to ban bitcoin, if they haven't already done so, although I wouldn't mind if they banned or put many more restrictions on the thousands of shitcoins that are constantly emerging, and which in many cases are nothing more than pump and dump schemes.

[crypticj]

Banning bitcoin will just slow down adoption. People will still be using it. So I think we shouldn't be worried about that.
What about regulations, we will see them for sure but I don't think they are gonna be harsh. Bitcoin is already a part of out world and government will accept it at some point.

[pooya87]

There are a couple of reasons that contributed to economic growth in El Salvador and bitcoin is only one of them. For example end of the pandemic and increased tourism and attracting more foreign investment are some of those reasons.
But of course IMF existing to fulfill American interest should be fearful of bitcoin adoption specially in places where it replaces US dollar (El Salvador doesn't have its own fiat and uses dollar).

[BenCodie]

They can try to ban it just like China has tried to ban it several times. It won't work. Bitcoin can not be censored or banned. People who have half a brain know that a ban is nothing more than theoretical and that with the right tools, you can still access and utilize Bitcoin despite whatever bans your country is imposing without any consequence.

[Kakmakr]

The The International Monetary Fund (IMF) have certain goals... namely to secure financial stability of the US Dollar in all the countries where it is used... discouraging policies that would harm the prosperity of the United States and international monetary cooperation (making sure countries use the US Dollar)

That is my summary of their goals.... not their actual goals... but you should read between the lines, when I do this, because that is the reason why they want to regulate/ban Crypto currencies. 

[EarnOnVictor]

The criticism and appraisal of Bitcoin did not just start today, so there is nothing to worry about. Top voices from big offices like IMF, FED, Federal Reserve, world & top banks and others have always made the world know their reservations about this, which is normal. But the project of Bitcoin is too large for a total condemnation that would cause a total ban, the haters could only rant, nothing more.

Still, it's worth noting that as time goes on whether we like it or not, more regulations would be meted out on cryptocurrencies, but banning is out of it. While those countries that restricted or banned it would gradually lift their bans.

[krishnaverma]

There are different people with different opinion regarding bitcoin  and crypto. Some people are in support of it because it is backed by blockchain technology. On the other hand, some people are against it with the logic that it can be used for illegal activities. I personally feel that these people who are against crypto have not themselves even tried crypto. They have formed an opinion against bitcoin just based on past bad experiences with other investment options. Thus, as crypto users, we should ask others to start using crypto even in small quantity. Once they have used it, they will also understand the benefits of crypto.

[cryptoaddictchie]

Bitcoin can not be censored or banned. People who have half a brain know that a ban is nothing more than theoretical and that with the right tools, you can still access and utilize Bitcoin despite whatever bans your country is imposing without any consequence.

Thats right. However if your country ban bitcoin, your only choice is to do psp with other people that can agree to pay you in fiat by wallet to wallet transfer or leave your country and go to a more not restrict area and less regulations about bitcoin and crypto. Kinda hassle if you are a normal guy but if your asset worth tons of money maybe leaving is the logical choice.

[tbct_mt2]

They'd like to regulate Bitcoin more seriously but not ban it. They are smart enough to know that they are unable to ban it but in the meantime, before better regulations they can think of, and will be approved and enforced, they will try to make as many fud as possible to fear the crowd.

If the crowd feel fearful about Bitcoin, think of it like something illegal and can bring them to jails, they will keep good distance to Bitcoin. It will reduce the adoption rate of Bitcoin and IMF will feel happily enough like their fud campaign gains some success.

[Doan9269]

It's nothing than an empty threat, IMF cannot decide for us when we are open to a decentralized digital network that is far more secured than the internet itself or the CBDC they are introducing, either they like it or not, bitcoin is the solution to our financial and economy challenges and has come to stay, they may try regulate other cryptos because they are centralized but not applicable to bitcoin, this is one of the basic fact bitcoin has over other cryptocurrencies in term of preference.

[vv181]

IMF interest is mainly centred toward things that they are able to control or at the very least a predictable economic condition. We need to be aware bitcoin is beyond their control, it is out of their league. It is expected and likely certain that regulation is the way to go, the inherent characteristics within the true cryptocurrencies that are less likely to be controlled by centralized entities force them to recommend a barrier that bridge between authority figure with cryptocurrencies worlds.

There are few things that the cryptocurrency communities could do but to stick with the inherent nature of cryptocurrency spaces. Any regulation or limitation would come sooner or later, whether we like it or not.

[Lucius]

They can try to ban it just like China has tried to ban it several times. It won't work.
~snip~

The IMF has no power to ban Bitcoin anywhere, and all it can do is give advice or blackmail those who are thinking of doing the same or something similar to El Salvador. Their negative attitude is nothing that should surprise us, because it would be really incredible if they said otherwise.

To think that such organizations will "promote" Bitcoin in any way is not at all logical, because they will protect the system at all costs.

[franky1]

the IMF is a LOAN company for the central banks

if a country uses deflationary currency. three things happen:
a. countries take a IMF loan at 2% invest it in deflationary currency and then pays it back and keeps the profits (after all bitcoin swings are more then 2% a year)
(IMF is already tightening up its rules/contracts where countries have to show good use of funds and not used for investing)

b. by countries avoiding IMF and investing in deflationary(saving) they wont need loans eventually..(soon)

c. with the BIS moving towards CBDC no one will want the old fiat "dollar" reserves system of loans from the IMF

in short the IMF is losing power and grasping to stay relevant

central banks WANT crypto. if you read BIS reports (BIS do the actual funds swaps between countries(not loans)) the central banks have asked for allowance to internally invest 5% of collateral in bitcoin which the BIS draft for a proposed rule for 2025 is so far a 2% allowance

which means if a CB has 20trillion. it can hold 400bill in bitcoin

which means when bitcoin moves by 5%-10% in weeks-months they wont need loans from the IMF

[kryptqnick]

The IMF has been having a problem with El Salvador's Bitcoin-friendly policy for a while, I believe. It's not about an attitude to El Salvador, of course, but about Bitcoin being a legal tender. The reason the IMF is against it is, apparently, because they believe "crypto assets should not be granted official currency or legal tender status in order to safeguard monetary sovereignty and stability". It's true that it goes directly against monetary sovereignty, which is "the right of a state to issue a national currency" and employ its monetary policy. It is truly disruptive when it comes to traditional state of affairs, but that doesn't mean that the state of affairs is fair and that countries should not give up monetary sovereignty. The point of the IMF, though, is to stabilize economies, it's listed by them as one of the top facts about the organization. So I think it's understandable why they are against cryptos as legal tender. franky1 also has a good point about loaning and how Bitcoin doesn't play well into that.

[panganib999]

I don't think this aim for regulation/banning of bitcoin is well-meaning at all, even if they argue about bitcoin being used for money laundering or all that stuff. In any case, I think the reason as to why they wanted bitcoin in chains is to force the people to these unlivable and only worsening conditions of living brought about by inflation and all these economic struggles. It makes sense when you consider the fact that bitcoin in some countries act as a fresh economic start for some people. Its high volatility rate even working in their favor and making their pennies worth more. This is something that you simply couldn't do in a single lifetime when you're stuck with the current economic system, with the rich feeding off of the poor's gullibility.

[suzanne5223]

The IMF boss is just playing the role of the boss of the International Monetary Fund cause it won't be nice for her to mute about the El Salvador decision to make Bitcoin legal tender mind you she's one that once advised the Central Bank to think about creating CBDC that Bitcoin is inevitable in the year 2019 when she took into office.
Meanwhile, the El Salvador President never consider her statement about the use of Bitcoin as a legal tender but I believe they are working on AML/CFT since the country President and CZ are somehow close.

[serveria.com]

The IMF should take it easy on trying to propagate bad news about bitcoin despite having evidence to the contrary. Earlier this month, the IMF visited San Salvador from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, and two things to note from their visit are, first, that the risks it raised in accepting bitcoin as a legal tender in 2021 have mostly been avoided, and secondly, that the Salvadoran economy grew rapidly by 2.8% in 2022. Now, instead of hiding their heads in shame, they are calling for a ban on Bitcoin or more regulation. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, crypto needs “more regulation.” She added, “We should not take off the table banning those assets,” if regulation fails or is too slow to implement. Too bad for them, the evidence is clear from El Salvador that, despite their status, they do not know it all, and secondly, there is a positive impact of Bitcoin on a country's economic growth. The only point where I agree with them is that any country that chooses to accept Bitcoin as a legal tender should also consider implementing Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) policies and increasing fiscal transparency. These are my thoughts, what's yours?

What a bunch of pathetic clowns! They can't ban or stop Bitcoin, it's simply not possible. You can slow it down, yes, but you can't stop it completely. And I don't think any additional regulation or transparency is needed. You know that nowadays the definition of terrorism can be adjusted and almost any individual or company or country can be called a terrorist for little to no reason (just because it can profitable for someone?).

[Smartvirus]

the IMF is a LOAN company for the central banks

if a country uses deflationary currency. three things happen:
a. countries take a IMF loan at 2% invest it in deflationary currency and then pays it back and keeps the profits (after all bitcoin swings are more then 2% a year)
(IMF is already tightening up its rules/contracts where countries have to show good use of funds and not used for investing)

b. by countries avoiding IMF and investing in deflationary(saving) they wont need loans eventually..(soon)

The purpose of every business enterprise is for them to make profit in the end. No business opens to be at a lose after there days work except for some NGOs that operates a charity scheme. Hence, its not difficult to see the direction at which the IMF tends to see things why neglecting what goods that have birth from the system. You don't want to go out of business, would you!

As true as it may seem, sending of funds to terrorist groups in ways that makes tracing difficult is soke of the flaws of bitcoin but, have they done any better in cutting the process while using fiat? Certainly not. Good enough, bitcoin don't need a lot of authorisation to operate and we cool as it is.

[Z-tight]

They can try to ban it just like China has tried to ban it several times. It won't work. Bitcoin can not be censored or banned. People who have half a brain know that a ban is nothing more than theoretical and that with the right tools, you can still access and utilize Bitcoin despite whatever bans your country is imposing without any consequence.

The IMF cannot ban BTC, and the Chinese government have banned things like BTC mining, but they haven't made the possession of BTC illegal. We may not like governments and what they do, but to be honest if a big country like China, U.S, U.K, etc, bans BTC, it would have weighty consequences, by banning it i mean making its possession illegal, the consequences would be weighty because even if there are some ways to use BTC even when banned, it becomes a crime to do so, and if many people get convicted for it, after sometime many people would totally stop using it in that country and it would be bad for BTC adoption.